At the Antoni Asunción Hernández Penitentiary Center of València, located in Picassent, art has become a powerful tool for change. The Foundation for Justice has carried out the project “Futures in Freedom: Integr-Art Space”, in which 20 inmates have had the opportunity to participate in a unique experience. The project has been possible thanks to the financing of the Social Welfare and Integration Service of the Valencia City Council.
The Project Director of the Foundation for Justice, Elena Vecino, highlights that "the program focuses on the exploration of various artistic disciplines, with an emphasis on the Theater of the Oppressed and audiovisual production. “This initiative seeks to expand the horizons of inmates and provide them with new forms of communication and personal expression.”
Four short films
The result of this project is the creation of four short films, all made with the active participation of the inmate population throughout the entire creative process. These short films have already been screened twice, allowing society in general to witness the achievements of these inmates.
The first screening took place in the penitentiary center itself at the beginning of June, with the presence of the inmates, representatives of the Foundation for Justice and the Penitentiary Center. The second screening took place in the XIV International Film and Human Rights Festival of Valencia, known as Humans Fest, as part of the exhibition of participatory short films at the Rector Peset residence hall. This screening addressed the critical issue of stigmatization associated with the prison experience, highlighting the power of audiovisual production as a tool for self-knowledge and empowerment.
Upcoming screenings
The impact of this program transcends the prison walls, and more screenings are planned. The next one is scheduled for October 31 in the Assembly Hall of the Preventive Unit of the Picassent penitentiary center, where both women and men will participate in debates generated by the screening of the short films. Then, on November 2, the screening will take place at the Castellón II Penitentiary Center, Albocàsser.
In addition, Fundación por la Justicia plans to return to Picassent with the same “Futures in Freedom” project. Reintegr-Arte» to continue building on previous work. This time, they will focus on making a documentary that will explore the daily life of a group of inmates in the Penitentiary Center.